Want to take photos of exotic wildlife but are afraid of doing it problematically? Well, you’re in the right place. In this article, we’ll explore how to do wildlife photography the right way.
So many people want to take photos of the wildlife they encounter on trips. After all, they want to capture such a special moment and freeze them in time.
However, doing so improperly can be disruptive if not outright harmful to the wildlife.
It’s, therefore, the responsibility of every tourist and photographer to act responsibly. It’s only through this can we protect nature, ensuring we can enjoy nature’s beauty for generations to come.
Here are the best practices for responsible, ethical, and sustainable wildlife photography.
Understanding the Ethics of Wildlife Photography
Ethical wildlife photography revolves around the idea of minimizing human impact on animals and their natural habitats. When we, as tourists and/or photographers enter their living spaces, we bear the responsibility of preserving and protecting them.
More specifically, ethical wildlife photography involves 3 main principles.
1. Prioritize Wildlife
Your photography is not as important as the well-being of the animal. Avoid any and all actions that might stress out, startle, or endanger the animals.
This includes actions like:
- Performing loud noises;
- Chasing after animals;
- Throwing things at them;
- Baiting them with food.
Unfortunately, many irresponsible photographers still do this to get the animal to look at the camera or make them perform an action for a more candid or interesting shot.
While some may say that actions like feeding them are benign, this may still cause unintended harm. For example, feeding or baiting may disrupt their regular eating patterns.
And remember: startling the animals can put your own safety in danger as well. If you give the creature reason to see you as a threat, then it just might act like you’re one!
2. Adhere to Local Laws
Wildlife protection laws can vary across regions. It goes without saying that you should comply with them to the best of your ability.
As such, some places will be more lenient, and some places will be stricter. You may be surprised to discover that you won’t be allowed to do things that you could do in other areas.
After all, chances are that such regulations were put in place as part of conservation efforts. They try to meet the specific needs of the local wildlife in that area.
And even if you don’t harm any wildlife, if you violate these laws, you will probably face consequences from the authorities anyway! So, if you want to keep taking photos of animals, it’s also in your best interest to obey these rules.
3. Leave No Trace
Nature can only remain beautiful if we let it be. The more we leave traces of human activity, the less natural these sceneries become—and the less these animals will fare in these spaces.
Avoid littering, trampling vegetation, or otherwise disrupting the environment. Always move around with care and caution. Be aware if you’re disturbing anything.
Some will try to “fix” or “improve” these spaces after seeing their imperfections. And while their intentions are good, more often than not, they will only cause damage. After all, remember that nature’s randomness and imperfection are what makes it natural.
In short, leave these landscapes as you found them or better.
Best Practices for Sustainable Wildlife Photography
So now that you understand the principles of ethical wildlife photography, what are the concrete ways we can act in accordance with them?
Here are 4 things everyone should do if they plan to take photos of wildlife.
1. Preparation and Research
The first thing you need to do is to conduct thorough research. Before you head out and travel to your destination, research all about the area.
Make sure to know as much as you can about:
- The species;
- Their habitats;
- Their behaviors;
- Local laws and organizations protecting them.
Such knowledge can help you predict animal movements, choose the optimal times for observation, and avoid disrupting their routines. Not only will this help you get the best and most amount photos, but you’ll also minimize how much you’ll disturb the animals.
For instance, if you wish to photograph birds in an area, you’ll need to know when the nesting season of those birds is. After all, many birds are particularly vulnerable during these seasons.
Pro tip: before leaving, use a VPN to change your location to your destination. This will make it easier to access local websites that often give more accurate and more detailed information about the local wildlife and other tourist must-knows.
2. Attend Formal Training
But if you’re a complete beginner, an afternoon or two of research may not be enough. Fortunately, there are tons of webinars, workshops, and classes on wildlife photography out there. Many of them are even free.
These should get you caught up on the basics and nitty-gritty of wildlife photography. They’ll teach you how to stay safe, minimize impact on the wildlife, and take better photos.
3. Use Proper Gear
Your ability to take photos without disrupting the animals will depend heavily on your equipment. It’s highly recommended to invest in the following equipment for wildlife photography:
● Long telephoto lenses
These allow you to keep your physical distance from the creatures, all while capturing crips close-up shots.
● Night Cameras
If you plan to photograph nocturnal creatures, then it’s wise to invest in a camera with great night modes.
Using flash is a no-no. After all, since when did Flash ever look great? Rarely. And you’ll disturb the animals too.
If you really feel the need to use artificial lighting, diffuse the flash to minimize its intensity and avoid repeated exposure.
● Noise dampening equipment
Gear such as silent shutters will allow you to take as many photos as you want without startling animals. Remember that many animals’ sense of hearing can be far sharper than that of humans. So what may sound like a silent shutter to us can be a loud, startling sound to them.
● Lightweight tripods and camera arms
Getting the right angle can be tricky, especially since you’ll want to limit movement as you get closer to the animals. Some animals may also nest high up in trees or hide behind bushes.
So invest in high-quality yet lightweight tripods and camera arms to help you get the perfect shot.
● Camouflaged Clothing
The less the animals notice you, the better. You’ll get better shots—and even protect yourself more!
4. Patience Over Provocation
Wildlife photography demands patience. Period.
If you’re the type of person to get overly excited and impatient for good quality photos, then you’ll need to reel those attributes if you want to photograph wildlife.
It’s essential to let the animals come to you. You’ll need to observe them in their natural behavior and avoid disrupting their natural routines in their habitats. Expect to wait for a long time for photo-worthy moments to unfold.
By being patient, you’ll get more authentic photographs all while avoiding causing stress on the animals. And trust me, once those moments come, it’ll feel all the more rewarding.
5. Ask for Local Help
If you can, it’s a great idea to ask a local to go with you. In fact, in many places, you’ll probably be required to go with a guide anyway.
They will know the local landscapes better and help you stay safe, avoid disturbing the spaces, and even get better photos.
Beyond the Camera
Want to take your passion for nature a step further? After all, truly sustainable wildlife photography goes beyond minimizing harm or complying with laws—it also seeks to advocate for the conservation of nature.
This is especially true given that many human activities still actively cause harm against it. It only makes sense that we need to act in favor of nature in order to not only counteract these harmful practices but also tip the balance in the other direction.
Here are a few ideas if you want to do more for wildlife:
1. Use Your Photos to Tell Stories
Pictures paint a thousand words. You can use your images to draw attention to endangered species, climate change, and habitat destruction.
Just make sure to back your photos up with factual information so that your advocacy seems credible.
2. Partnering with Conservation Organizations
Collaborate with NGOs or wildlife reserves. You can use your love and expertise with photography to document their work, for example.
3. Hold Other Photographers Accountable
Unfortunately, too many wildlife photographers still like to test or even go past their limits. Every member of the community must promote ethical practices and shun unethical ones.
4. Avoiding Over-Saturation
Or, at the very least, you can learn how to say no from time to time. Some ecosystems are already oversaturated with tourists and photographers.
For example, according to the World Animal Protection Organization, animals used as photography props can encounter up to 400 tourists a day. This can cause a lot of long-term stress on the creature, negatively affecting its health.
So, try to seek out places that don’t get as much attention. You’ll get more unique photos, and you’ll stress out the animals there less.
Conclusion
The reason why we have the opportunity to observe and photograph nature’s beauty is because those before us have made efforts to preserve it.
It’s simply our responsibility to do the same.
